Improvement in fire-proof and water-proof roofings



UNITED STATES PATENT QrFIoE.

EDWARD R. PERCY, OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF AND WATER-PROOF ROOFINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,566, dated April 8,1873 application filed January 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD 1t. PERCY, of Lawrence, Douglas county,Kansas, have invented an Improved Process for the Purpose of MakingRoofs of Buildings both \Vater- Proof and Fire-Proof, of which thefollowing is a specification:

Upon the sheathing of the roof is put down, without the use of nails ortheir equivalents to secure it in position, a waterproof covering madeof felt, tarpauliu, tin, copper, or other like suitable material coatedover with roofin gcement to make it wa ter-proof, and upon thiswater-proof covering thus prepared is laid a coating of concrete made ofnon-combustible materials.

I am aware that water-proof roofing of various kinds is used, and alsothat concrete has been employed; but in all prevailing processes eithernails or their equivalents have been used for the purpose of fasteningthe water-proof covering to the sheathing, or else cleats have beennailed down to secure the said covering or the concrete in position. Inall cases where water-proof covering has been used holes have beennecessarily made through it by the nails or their equivalents, whichhave been driven, and where cleats are used holes are made through themto secure them to the sheathing. In consequence of the contraction andexpansion of the wood composing the sheathing, the nails or-theirequivalents which are driven through the said covering into it areloosened and the holes enlarged, which two incidents cause leakage.

In my method the water-proof covering is held in its place by the weightof the superincumbent concrete, so that no nails or their equivalentsare necessary, and therefore no holes are made in said covering, and, asthe water-proof covering is not attached to the sheathing by adhesion,nor by nails or their equivalents, the usual contraction and expan sionof the wood beneath will not cause any tearing of the said covering.

The concrete not only holds the water-proof covering in position, butalso secures the object of making the roof fire-proof, so far asnon-combustible materials can procure that very desirable result.

I claim as my invention- The method of combining water-proof andfireproof rooting for buildings without the use of cleats or nails ortheir equivalents for fastenin g the water-proof covering to thesheathing, substantially as described.

EDWARD R. PERCY.

Witnesses:

W. O. BRooKs, W. P. PUGH.

